Class of 2017 Features Top-Notch Talent

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Though the Yale men's tennis team is losing four standout seniors this season, the squad is welcoming two freshmen in the Class of 2017 with impressive pre-collegiate credentials. Both Tyler Lu and Photos Photiades are among the elite players in their respective home countries, and both bring with them a versatile list of accomplishments. Significantly, the newcomers' past successes in both singles and doubles signal that they will be valuable assets on a Bulldog squad intent on claiming the Ivy League title.

Lu and Photiades join a Yale team coming off one of its most successful seasons in recent history, with an 18-6 record and a finish at No. 57 in the national rankings. The 2013-14 squad will be coached by Alex Dorato, Cary Leeds Head Coach of Men's Tennis, and it will be led by captain Kyle Dawson and his classmates Patrick Chase and Tommy Ratchford.

Lu hails from the same town and school as recent graduate John Huang '13. Like Huang, he was rated a "Blue Chip" recruit by tennisrecruiting.net. Lu has also worked his way into the upper echelons of the SoCal rankings and the national rankings in his junior tennis career.

Photiades, a native Cypriot, comes to Yale with a unique résumé. He has proven himself to be one of the best players in Cyprus from a young age, as he won his first under-18 national tournament at age 15. In addition to his success within his country, Photiades has also had some experience on the international stage as part of his membership on the Cyprus Davis Cup team.

The combined strength of these two incoming players was confirmed when tennisrecruiting.net released the results of the voting for the top 25 men's recruiting classes in the nation for 2013. Yale received 10 points, good enough to place 36th in the country—just ahead of Duke and right behind Notre Dame.

Here is a closer look at the newest members of the Yale men's tennis team:

Tyler Lu

Irvine, Calif.

University High School

Was ranked as high as No. 3 in the SoCal region and No. 24 in the nation by the USTA ... Rated a Blue Chip recruit by tennisrecruiting.net … Biggest singles titles were the San Diego National Open and the Las Vegas Regional … Also won the Lakewood National Open and the SoCal Sectionals in doubles … Received the Super National Clay Court Championships Sportsmanship Award ... National Merit Semifinalist.

Photos Photiades

Nicosia, Cyprus

English School

Current national ranking of No. 4 in Cyprus in both singles and doubles … Current member of the Cyprus Davis Cup team … Former under-18 No. 1 in Cyprus in both singles and doubles … Reached a career-high ITF junior ranking of No. 339 …Highest Tennis Europe ranking was No. 56 … Won his first under-18 national tournament at age 15 … Received English School Academic Excellence Awards for Mathematics and History.